Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in the world. Risk factor modification, anticoagulation, rhythm control, and rate control are the four pillars of its management. American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines on management of AF were updated recently.

Overweight is generally defined as a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2 in adults. A BMI ≥30 is considered obese (criteria differ slightly in Asian patients). In patients with an elevated BMI, a 5-10% reduction in weight has been associated with a reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Diet, exercise, and behavior modification are the traditional methods for losing weight, but they are often inadequate; the American College of Cardiology no longer recommends that all patients try lifestyle modification alone before adding...

The drugs of choice for treatment of common cardiac arrhythmias are listed in Tables 1 and 2. Some drugs are recommended for indications that have not been approved by the FDA.

This issue includes reviews of drugs for glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), bacterial conjunctivitis, and dry eye disease. Allergic conjunctivitis is reviewed in a separate issue.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits, often accompanied by bloating. IBS is classified by its predominant bowel symptom: constipation (IBS-C), diarrhea (IBS-D), mixed type (IBS-M), or unclassified (IBS-U). Since the exact cause of IBS is unknown, the goal of treatment is symptom control. Some over-the-counter (OTC) products and prescription drugs for IBS are listed in Tables 1-4. The safety of these drugs during pregnancy and lactation is described in Table 5 (online only).

Patients who receive pretravel advice can reduce their risk for many travel-related conditions. Vaccines recommended for travelers are reviewed in a separate issue.

An oral nonopioid analgesic is often sufficient for acute treatment of mild to moderate migraine pain without severe nausea or vomiting. A triptan is the drug of choice for treatment of moderate to severe migraine in most patients without vascular disease. Treatment of pain when it is still mild to moderate in intensity improves headache response and reduces the risk of recurrence.

Diet, exercise, and weight loss can improve glycemic control, but most patients with type 2 diabetes eventually require glucose-lowering pharmacotherapy. An A1C goal of <7% (while minimizing hypoglycemia) is recommended for most patients to prevent or reduce the microvascular complications of diabetes (retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy). An A1C target of <8% may be appropriate for patients who are older, have comorbid conditions, or are at risk of serious hypoglycemia-associated adverse events.

The tables in this article list drugs used for treatment of cancer in the USA and Canada and their major adverse effects. The choice of drugs in Table I is based on the opinions of Medical Letter consultants. Some drugs are listed for indications for which they have not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. In some cases, such as elderly patients or those with many co-morbid illnesses, the regimen of choice might not be suitable. For many of the cancers listed, surgery and/or radiation therapy may be the treatment of choice or may also be part of the management. Anticancer...

The text that follows reviews some common bacterial infections and their empiric treatment pending the results of culture and susceptibility testing. The recommendations made here are based on the results of susceptibility studies, clinical trials, and the opinions of Medical Letter reviewers. Tables 1 and 2 list the usual dosages of antibacterial drugs.